MKR returns to screens tonight, with a new group of home cooks ready to put their skills to the test in the kitchen for season 16 of the reality series.
The new season brings together six initial teams from across Australia, including family members, friends, couples and colleagues, all hoping to make their mark in the competition.
Manu Feildel and Colin Fassnidge return as co-hosts and judges, with the pair once again overseeing the teams as they take on the challenges of MKR.
The six initial teams will be joined by three gatecrasher teams later in the competition, with one team ultimately claiming $100,000 and the title of MKR champions.
Here’s a look at the teams entering the competition.
Krysten and Lucy – Mother and Daughter, Queensland
Krysten, 50, and Lucy, 23, are a mother-daughter duo from Queensland who live on a 12-acre property where they spend their days baking, fishing, free-diving and hosting friends at their fairy-lit smokehouse.
Krysten co-runs the family medical practice and is an enthusiastic fisherwoman who previously spent seven years living on a boat. Lucy has followed her passion for baking by building her own micro-bakery, Burnt Croissants, and holds the world record for the largest Australian bass caught by an under-16 female angler.
In the kitchen, Krysten brings instinct and big flavours, while Lucy takes a more precise approach as a self-taught baker. Their signature dish is a chilli crab shio pan combining Lucy’s baking with seafood and Indonesian flavours, while Lucy’s favourite is a pain au chocolat – a pastry she loves enough to have tattooed on herself.
The pair describe their dynamic as cooperative, trusting and strong-minded, with both seeing their relationship as one where they have each other’s backs. Krysten believes Tiffany and Giancarlo will be tough competition, while Lucy has her eye on Harrison and Oliver.
Angus and Simon – Funeral Director and Mate, South Australia
Angus, 31, and Simon, 36, met 11 years ago while working in a pub and have remained close friends ever since. The pair are known for their humour and spend plenty of time laughing, sharing stories and taking the mickey out of each other.
Angus works as a funeral director and describes his job as being similar to waiting tables when it comes to the importance of making a good impression. Simon, meanwhile, is always ready for a laugh and enjoys a good time.
Their cooking styles are very different, with Angus working quickly and using every utensil available, while Simon is methodical, recipe-focused and precise. Angus’s signature dish is his grandmother’s mini sausage rolls, while Simon’s is Hainanese chicken rice.
They describe their team dynamic as “fun and fiery” and “fire and ice”, with both admitting that their approach can change when the pressure is on. Angus names Krysten and Lucy or Mary and Golden as potential competition, while Simon points to Tiffany and Giancarlo.
Alisha and Deanne – Classy Bogans, South Australia
Alisha, 33, and Deanne, 34, have been friends since high school and describe their relationship as being more like sisters. The pair are loud, energetic and quick with a joke, with Alisha the more outspoken of the two.
Alisha works as a beautician and describes herself as sassy and unfiltered, while Deanne is a recently divorced mum of two who works in retail. Together, they plan to bring their home-style cooking to the competition.
Their signature dishes include Alisha’s nan’s sticky date pudding and Deanne’s birria tacos. The pair describe their cooking as hearty and full of flavour, with their shared theme song being Girls Just Want to Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper.
When it comes to the competition, Alisha says their biggest competition is themselves, while Deanne says they are there to take teams out one by one.
Tiffany and Giancarlo – Loved-up Couple, Victoria
Tiffany, 37, and Giancarlo, 41, have been together for almost 20 years and are taking on MKR as a couple. They have chosen to live life on their own terms, without a wedding or children.
Tiffany spent years working as a flight attendant before moving into corporate marketing and more recently becoming a homemaker. Giancarlo describes himself as an entrepreneur and works across the family engineering firm, business consulting, technology and events.
Giancarlo has taught Tiffany to cook and brings his Italian heritage to the kitchen, with his food also influenced by regional Italian cuisine, time spent in Mykonos and a love of seasonal produce. Tiffany’s cooking is similarly shaped by Italian family traditions and recipes passed down through generations.
Their signature dishes include Tiffany’s spaghetti pomodoro, fresh pasta and roast chicken, while Giancarlo nominates melanzane alla parmigiana. They describe their team dynamic as supportive and competitive, with both trusting the other to step up when the pressure builds.
Mary and Golden – Nurses, Victoria
Mary, 38, and Golden, 38, met while studying nursing in the Philippines before moving to Australia together in 2004. They have remained best friends ever since, with both continuing careers in nursing.
Mary is a wife and mother of two who has a strong connection to Filipino home cooking, while Golden is a single mum who brings a calmer presence to the partnership. The pair hope to one day launch a food truck travelling to hospitals and serving Filipino street food.
Filipino cuisine is central to Mary’s cooking, while Golden has developed an interest in recreating dishes from different cuisines she discovers while travelling. Both want to use MKR to showcase Filipino food and culture to Australian audiences.
The pair say their long friendship means they can communicate without words, with Mary bringing the louder personality and Golden taking a more observant approach. Mary sees Tiffany and Giancarlo as strong competition, while Golden says her biggest competition is herself.
Jane and Shane – Stylish Foodies, NSW
Jane, 49, and Shane, 55, are married and are building a blended family while sharing a love of food, design and entertaining. Jane works as a food stylist, creative director and design stylist, while Shane is a former hairdresser who became a builder.
Jane brings a confident and outspoken personality to the kitchen, while Shane provides a calmer presence. The pair grow their own produce and plan to create an Instant Restaurant that reflects their interest in food and design.
Jane describes her cooking as bold, vibrant and packed with flavour, with a Sri Lankan prawn curry cooked over coals among her signature dishes. Shane specialises in pasta and woodfire cooking, including handmade prawn, chilli and lemon spaghetti.
The couple describe their kitchen dynamic as supportive, with Jane taking the lead and Shane helping bring her ideas to life.
Meet the gatecrashers:
Three more teams will enter the competition as gatecrashers, bringing the total number of teams taking part in the 2026 season to nine.
Harrison and Oliver – Hipster Mates, NSW
Harrison, 30, and Oliver, 28, are best mates who met at their local brewery six years ago. Their friendship was built around a shared love of food, craft beer, fashion and music, with the pair bringing a vintage aesthetic and eccentric style to the competition.
Harrison works as a bar manager and enjoys slow-cooked feasts and beer pairings, while Oliver works in a bottle shop and has a passion for Italian food, handmade pasta and rich, savoury meats.
They describe their team dynamic as supportive and determined, with both able to swap roles in the kitchen. Harrison names Mary and Golden as his biggest competition, while Oliver says his biggest competition is himself.
Sheridan and Ted – Mother and Son, Western Australia
Sheridan, 53, and Ted, 25, are a mother-and-son team from Western Australia. Their close relationship comes with plenty of banter and bickering, with Ted the youngest of Sheridan’s four children.
Sheridan is a high school mathematics teacher who brings organisation and reliability to the kitchen, while Ted is passionate about golf, cars and competition. Their approaches to food differ, with Ted enjoying experimentation and Sheridan preferring straightforward, hearty cooking.
Sheridan’s signature dish is a yuzu dessert she developed after seeing the components on Instagram, while Ted favours slow-cooked Asian dishes including butter chicken and Taiwanese beef noodle soup.
The pair believe their differences make them a strong team, with Sheridan describing their relationship as “chaos” but with a strong bond and plenty of love.
Zoe and Zac – Sassy Friends, NSW
Zoe, 30, and Zac, 30, have been best friends for 15 years after meeting as teenage co-workers. The pair are loud, competitive and adventurous, and hope to one day open a brewery in Newcastle.
Zoe is a passionate pescatarian with a strong competitive streak, while Zac brings a sassy sense of humour to the partnership. Together, they describe their dynamic as chaotic but hilarious, with the pair confident they can pull together when it matters.
Zoe’s signature dish is her Nanna’s caramel slice, while Zac’s is a sage and mushroom risotto he made while backpacking around Europe. Both believe staying calm under pressure and working well together will be important to succeeding in the competition.
With nine teams bringing different relationships, cooking styles and personalities to the competition, MKR is set to return with a new group of home cooks ready to compete for the $100,000 prize.
